Versatility of use, which is characterized by the majority of modern jigsaws – the merit not only of the design of this electric tool, but also of its main cutting part – saw blade.
In order to make a quality cut of material it is necessary to use blades that fit the density of the material and the type of cut. This approach also increases the service life of both the blades themselves and the jigsaw.
Let’s look at the classification of saw blades on the example of a well-known manufacturer Bosch ..
Table of Contents:
Types of jigsaw blades by profile
- Shape of the blade tip. Blades with U-shaped or T-shaped tail tips are the most securely clamped in the jigsaw. The choice of jigsaw should be made with these blades in mind.
- Tooth profile. The choice of profile is influenced by the density of the material to be cut and the quality of cut required. A general rule of thumb is that if the teeth are well set but not additionally sharpened, such blades are good for a quick cut with low quality requirements for the cut edge. The converse is true: if the teeth are not perfectly set, the cutting quality is good, but the cutting speed is low.
- Tooth pitch and blade material. In the cutting process itself there are 3-4 teeth. They make reciprocating movements in the material body. The material can be of different thicknesses. To use two or three teeth for work is not enough. For this reason, a blade with a larger pitch is selected for thicker workpieces and vice versa.
- BOSCH E127D and T345XF blades – with set milled teeth. Suitable for cutting sheets with a relatively clean cut. It is easy to make a clean cut with them.
- BOSCH T119B and T118A blades – with wavy profile and milled teeth. Suitable for straight cuts where a clean edge is required. Material: plywood, metal, plastic.
- BOSCH T101B, T101DP, T234X – have ground teeth, set at a free angle. Suitable for precise clean cuts in wood and plastic.
The material from which the saw blade is made plays a big role in the quality of the cut.
Materials for hacksaw blades of jigsaws
- HSS – the blade is made of hard, hardened steel. A fast-cutting blade, but the strength is combined with the brittleness of the material, which must be taken into account when using. Material to be cut: metal, non-ferrous metal, aluminum.
- HCS – High carbon mild tool steel. Handy for cutting wood, plastic, etc.
- HAS – the same as the previous one, with the only difference that this material is much stronger. It can be used to cut e.g. wood with nail residues, aerated concrete, non-ferrous metal.
In addition to the basic materials used in the manufacture of BOSCH saw blades combinations of these materials are used.
Combination saw blade materials
- Bimetallic compositions. The blade consists of a softer base and a much harder (HSS) tooth material. The result is a versatile saw that combines strength and resilience.
- HCS materialcoated with a hard metal spray (labeled HM (Piff)). There are no individual teeth, but there is a coating of coarse grains of hard metal on the base. Suitable for cutting glass, tiles, bricks.
- The blades, called “Progressor.”. Have different tooth pitch (HSS) at the beginning and end of the blade. T123 is universal for wood and ferrous metal, T234 in HCS – for clean, fast cuts in wood.